How to Make Your Makeup Last All Day

Photo Courtesy to Flickr user 
Renata Alves dos Anjos

Your most successful days may have one thing in common: how they began. For many women, the morning ritual of makeup application is a moment of personal peace taken for themselves, not out of vanity, but out of respect for the body and mind. This simple routine can be a time to take a deep breath in, refresh your soul and remind yourself that you are a woman to be reckoned with. You are strong. You are smart. You are capable, and you are beautiful. 

However, if you’re like most women, maintaining this mindset throughout the day can be challenging. It’s 2 p.m.; you’re late for a meeting; there’s a coffee stain on your skirt that’s now six hours old; and to make matters worse, your makeup is practically sliding off of your face thanks sweat and the natural oils in your skin. 

Now to the age-old dilemma: How do you make the morning moment of peace and confidence last all day? Well, there’s no set formula, but keeping your makeup fresh all day is a lovely start. 

Start with a Clean Slate. 
In order to maintain that perfect foundation application you work so hard on in the morning, it’s important to remember that what you do before you apply is more important than what you do during application. First of all, when you care for your skin properly, you’ll feel more confident without makeup. Then, when you do choose to wear it, it will apply more smoothly. 

To begin, always wash your face and apply moisturizer in the morning, and allow no longer than 30 minutes to go by between doing so and applying your makeup. If you have oily skin and moisturizer makes you nervous, don’t worry! Your skin is actually thirsty and is overproducing oil to compensate. By moisturizing after you wash your face, your skin will receive the moisture it needs and therefore slow down oil production. 

Ready, SET, Stay! 
Another key tip in getting your foundation to stay all day, is making sure you have the correct components to help it out. Invest in a quality primer for your skin type, and your makeup will have the correct base to collaborate with your delicate visage. Always set your foundation with a translucent powder to help absorb oil throughout the day, and when you need extra staying power, apply a setting spray to help meld the products together. One more thing - hairspray is not ideal for setting makeup! Read more about what not to put on your face by clicking here. 

Put Your Hands Down. 
Possibly the simplest trick in the book is one of the most important ones. Unless you’re using an oil-blotting sheet or a dab of powder to touch up during the day, keep your fingers off your face. By touching your face, you risk smudging your makeup or transferring bacteria and other body oils to your sensitive skin. 

Have any questions about your skin care routine? Leave them in the comments or schedule an appointment at Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Associates today!

Ethnic Skin: Choosing The Right Makeup

Photo courtesy of flickr user Philippe Put

If you’re a dark-skinned woman, do you spend countless hours scouring the makeup aisles in a vain attempt to find makeup that matches your skin? Are you sick of dull makeup colors that barely show up, or worse, leave your skin looking chalky? We understand your pain, and we have answers! Keep reading to find out how to avoid these annoyances and apply flawless makeup to your beautiful dark skin.

Face

Primer

First, cleanse and tone your skin. Then, if you have oily skin, apply a matte primer. If your skin tends to be drier, look for an allover moisturizing primer that will give you a good base to apply your make up seamlessly.

Foundation, Blush and Bronzer

Choosing the right shade of foundation can make or break your look. Picking a foundation that is too light is the main cause of the “chalky” look that so many dark-skinned women experience. We know finding the perfect shade is difficult, and sometimes it seems impossible, but trust us – going too dark is better than going too light (and don’t forget you can always mix the two). Keep in mind that yellow-based foundations mix best with dark skin tones. Remember: The goal is for foundation to basically disappear after application, so always test shades in natural light before you buy them. That way, they will match as closely as possible. After applying your foundation with a yellow base, you should move to a blush and bronzer that will accentuate your natural color. Brown or copper bronzer is best for naturally dark skin.  

Lips

For the lips, think natural. Browns, golds, neutrals and earth tones look best for daytime wear, while pinks and dark burgundy shades add glam for your nighttime look. If you want to catch some eyes but not grab too much attention, opt for a dab of lip gloss. This is great for a casual evening or some daytime fun! Although often misunderstood, using a dark liner is actually NOT the best way to accentuate your lips. You should highlight this area by adding a little pop with a liner that’s close to the same color as your gloss or lipstick.

Eyes

The eyes are often the most overlooked part of the makeup routine.

Eye Shadow

Although it’s the easiest to skip, a great eye shadow can complete your look if done properly. Shimmery, metallic eye shadows are best for dark skin. For a more dramatic look, try two complementary colors like gold and purple. Keep in mind that the darker your skin, the brighter the colors you can pull off. Contrast is everything when it comes to the eyes!

Eyeliner

For your liner, stick with a basic brown or black with black mascara. If you’re going for that bold look, try some false eyelashes and go crazy with colorful shadows!

To recap: Err on the dark side for your foundation, go natural on the lips and bright for the eyes. Have fun with your makeup and embrace your beautiful skin!

Skin Care Product Expiration

Skin care products can be expensive. People love to have them but hate to buy them – and that’s exactly why it’s easy to talk yourself into keeping that $50 bottle of moisturizer you bought three years ago that’s only half-empty. Although you may be saving money, you might be doing a disservice to your skin. Here is a brief guide on when to keep and when to toss your skin care products:

Makeup

Eyes

Of all your cosmetics, your eye makeup probably has the shortest shelf life. There isn’t a good way to clean the majority of the applicators you use, so it’s easy for bacteria to grow quickly and abundantly. You should throw away your mascara every one to three months. If it’s dry and clumpy, it’s well past its expiration. When it comes to liners, pencils can last up to a year if they’re the type that can be regularly sharpened, but gel and liquid liners should be thrown away every couple of months. Cream eye shadows can last up to a year, and powder eye shadow is good for up to two years. 

Lips

Lipstick will begin to dry out after about two years, and that’s your sign to toss it. Lip gloss, on the other hand, will start becoming extra sticky when it’s reached its expiration, and that usually happens after one year. 

Face

Powders and blushes tend to last up to two years. Powders will start to become flaky and dry when it’s time to toss them. Liquid foundation can last anywhere from six months to a year. When your foundation starts to lighten and separate into layers, that’s when you’ll know it’s time for it to go.

Cleansers

Face

Facial cleansers can last up to six months. If your cleanser includes benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, it’s important to note that they decay quickly and no longer work as they should after about four to six months. Glycolic peels and acne treatment pads will begin to dry out after two months and should be thrown out once that happens.

Body

Body washes can last for two to three years. If you notice a change in consistency, smell or color, stop using the product.

Moisturizers

Face

One year is a safe bet for most moisturizers. Although products that don’t contain anti-aging properties may last longer, the bacteria that accumulates in the jar causes your moisturizer’s shelf life to decline dramatically.

Body

Body lotions can last from two to three years. If you notice a change in smell, color or consistency, it’s time to replace it.

Sunscreen

As mentioned in a previous post, sunscreen is effective for up to three years after its purchase date. To ensure shelf life longevity, it’s important to store your sunscreen in a cool or room-temperature environment.

Do you have any product expirations that weren’t addressed in this post? Leave them in the comments below, and I’ll try to help you out!

Skin Through The Ages: The Teenage Years

 
This post is the first in a series called “Skin Through the Ages.” The series will focus on how to take care of and manage skin at various points in life. This post addresses the teenage years. 

Do me a favor. Take a minute and close out the chats, games and other apps you have running. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let me get to the point quickly. You’re going to get old one day. Yeah, I know, it’ll happen a million years from now, but one day in the not-so-distant future, you’ll look in the mirror and ask, “What are those lines? Where did I get this spot on my face? I AM getting old!” Then you’ll wonder why you didn’t listen to that blog post you came across when you were still young and had great skin. So consider yourself lucky and listen to these skin care tips that will have your friends in the future seriously jealous of your youthful complexion.

What am I?
You can’t take care of your skin if you don’t know what type of skin you have. The five basic skin types are dry, normal, oily, combination and sensitive. The names describe each skin type exactly as they sound. If you’re still unsure, you can have your skin analyzed at a skin care counter in the mall or make an appointment with a dermatologist or other skin care professional.

Do it to it.
Now that you know your skin care type, it’s time to take care of it twice a day. Wash and moisturize your skin every morning and every night. Use spot treatments as needed for your acne, scars or other problems. Most importantly, use products meant for teenage skin. The stuff your grandma uses is probably not right for you now.

Too slick?
You may think your skin is already soft enough or too oily for lotion, but that isn’t true. After washing, your skin needs moisture. If you don’t use a proper product, your skin will likely over-compensate, producing its own oil to get back to its natural state. This can cause your face to be even more oily and at risk for acne. Use the right moisturizer for your skin type, including an oil-free lotion and one with sunscreen.

Take it off!
Hold on a second, we’re talking about your makeup. Yes, morning-after makeup looks good on TV and in the movies, but it will look quite the opposite in real life. Leftover makeup can suffocate your skin overnight and make your eyes feel gritty and irritated in the morning. Even if you’re too exhausted to do your whole skin care routine, AT LEAST take off your makeup.

Hands off!
Yeah, I know, we’re really bossy when it comes to your skin, but keep your hands off of your face! Unless you just washed your hands, wherever they’ve been is going to wind up on your FACE! Pretty gross, right?  Avoid touching your face unnecessarily.

Hands off! (Part deux)
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, don’t pick at your pimples! Although your face is nice, it isn’t magic. You know how when you scrape your knee or arm and get a scar? The same will happen to your face. That’s not cute.

You aren’t a baker…
So don’t cook your skin! Yes, that nice golden glow looks really good, but you should think twice unless you want to look like this. If you must have the tan-like glow, use a bronzer or self-tanner, but leave the frying in the kitchen.

So off you go, and if for some reason your skin confuses you, leave me a comment below and I’ll help you work it out! You can also schedule an appointment with Advanced Dermatology by clicking here.

Covering the Signs of Aging - The Market's Best Makeup

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Anti-aging seems to be the topic on every woman’s mind nowadays. One of the big questions we receive from ADSCA patients is whether they can use makeup to aid in that quest for the fountain of youth. At the very least, they want to know which brands aren’t contributing to the problem.

In this blog post, I’ll identify some tips for which brands to use, how to identify your skin type and the best way to keep your skin looking young using everyday makeup. Did I miss anything? Leave your questions or suggestions in the comments below.

The Best Age Fighters: Moisture and Sun Protection

The absolute best way to fight wrinkles and other signs of aging is, without a doubt, to moisturize and protect your skin from the sun. Even if you already have oily skin, use an oil-free moisturizer (like Aveeno) to help your skin maintain its elasticity as it ages.

Protecting your skin from the sun is another must-do. Although a tan may look nice when you are in your teens and 20s, it definitely leads to skin damage, wrinkles and other signs of aging later in life. Make sure a sunscreen is part of your daily routine, and make sure you’re using at least SPF 30. Many moisturizers have sunscreen as part of their formula, so choose one with SPF to combine these two critical steps.

Avoid Powder-Based Foundation and Concealer

Avoid using powder-based foundations or concealers, as these types of makeup, when used on dry skin, can actually sink into wrinkles and make them more visible!

Start by remedying your dry skin problem. To do that, first refer to my first tip and moisturize! Second, use liquid or cream-based foundations, eye shadows and other products applied directly to the skin.

Makeup with Additives

Retinol is the newest buzzword in the anti-aging and makeup world. It is often added to a variety of foundations. Although it may increase cell turnover (which helps slow the aging process), it’s not something that has been proven. If you’re already using a retinol foundation, keep it up. If you’re not, don’t bank on it being the end all be all for anti-aging makeup.

The Tint

As women age, they often experience a dullness in their skin tone. Using a foundation and/or moisturizer with bronzer or other tinted, luminescent qualities makes a huge difference. By reflecting light, the makeup gives the illusion of a more evenly tinted, vibrant skin tone. Although this won’t actually change your skin, it will improve its appearance.

Don’t Spend a Fortune!

While there are lots of brands out there, most of them offer a similar product. According to Good Housekeeping, the following products scored highest among women for their anti-aging qualities:

• Concealer – Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer
• Foundation – Chanel Lift Lumière Firming and Smoothing Fluid Makeup SPF 15
• A note from Dr. Patel: Although SPF 15 is better than none, I recommend using at least SPF 30 on a daily basis.
• Primer – Korres Quercetin & Oak Anti-Aging Age Reversing Face Primer
• Lipstick – Dior Rouge Serum SPF 20
• Eye Shadow – MAC Paint Pot
• Mascara – MAC False Lashes

For more information on the magazine’s findings, click here.  

The BB Basics

Photo by SodanieChea, some rights reserved.

In the last few weeks, BB cream has become a household word – sort of. There are a variety of advertisements extolling the value of a good BB cream, and some extolling the value of a not-so-good BB cream. But what is it? I’ve answered a few key questions below.

What is a BB cream?

Originally developed in Germany in the 1960s, BB creams rapidly gained popularity in Asia over the next few decades.

BB creams are billed as an “all-in-one” solution to replace serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, foundation and primer. Most of these creams are mineral-based, and are often used to cover and treat acne, age spots and sun spots.  

Do they really work?

Although BB creams are a great solution for women without the time or money to use separate products that are already proven to work, they are not a perfect substitute. To the extent that you can use a separate, proven moisturizer, foundation or other product, do. We already know that the separate products work. Until more research is done specifically on BB creams, there is not enough information to say that they are a perfect substitute for all other facial creams.

Who should use BB creams?

BB creams are best suited for women who are too busy to consistently keep up with a multi-product facial routine, or who do not have the budget to do it regularly.

Additionally, in the U.S., BB creams have become more of a substitute for foundation due to their good coverage.

Bottom line, if you aren’t already using moisturizer and sunscreen every day, a BB cream is a step in the right direction. If you already have a routine that works, don’t change it unless you have to.

Which BB creams are the best?

It depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re on a budget, the over-the-counter drugstore BB creams will run about $12 to $15. Maybelline, L’Oreal and Garnier all sell these creams. I like the L’Oreal brand, as it offers the best sun protection with 30 SPF. Department store beauty counters sell creams for $35 to $40 or more. The comparison is similar to that between a drugstore foundation and a department store foundation.

Deciding which brand of BB cream to try varies with each woman’s need. Pay attention to whether the cream offers coverage, light reflection, antioxidants or better sun protection, and then decide what works best for you. There are even vegan and cruelty-free varieties.

Have more questions about BB creams? Leave them in the comments below and we’ll answer them!